VRBO By the Numbers
How to stock linens in your short term rental
Before we bought our short term rental, we spent time vacationing at other properties that we found on AirBnB and VRBO. We considered it research (and a good excuse for a weekend get away!). It was important to know how we felt in someone else’s home so that we could make sure we could provide the most comfortable and memorable experience in our own. One of our goals is to have guests enjoy their stay so much that they return. Hospitality is key and a well stocked home is one way to achieve that.
When stocking your home, here are some things we have found essential.
Dinnerware- For your cabinets, you will need 2 sets of dinnerware, glassware, and silverware per person. This ensures there are extra plates and bowls in the cabinets even when there are dirty ones in the dishwasher. It’s a good idea to have extras stored away in case things get lost or broken.
We think basic white is a great way to go. Basic white is easy to mix and match to maintain a cohesive look in your kitchen. We like Corelle because it is made in the USA, but Ikea, Amazon, and even Dollar Tree have lots of options in white.
When selecting your dinnerware, consider how easy it will be to replace if a spoon gets eaten by the garbage disposal!
Sheets- We recommend three sets of sheets per bed. This is for the benefit of the housekeeper. Laundry can be overwhelming especially with large numbers of guests. In order to save time, it’s a good idea to have an extra set of sheets so the housekeeper can make the beds while running the laundry. The third set is a back up so that if a sheet gets stained or torn, there is an easy replacement.
White sheets are best, especially for the pictures you will post of your home online. They are bright and easily matched when it’s time to replace.
One other note on sheets. While high thread count and 100% cotton may be important in other circumstances, remember that the goal is for your house cleaning
service to be able to turn over the house quickly for the next guest. Cotton takes a long
time to dry. Microfiber sheets dry quickly and are a better option.
Towels- Two sets per guest is sufficient with an extra set or two stocked away in case of accidents.
While white sheets are preferred, there is great debate as to whether towels should be white or colored. Many people prefer white, but I have found that they turn dingy after multiple uses. I prefer to have neutral colored towels THAT MATCH in my linen closets, gray in one and khaki in the other. However, beware that if you have bleach in the house, your towels will get ruined. And the last thing you want to do is replace ten sets of towels. That’s expensive! The best way to avoid this is to keep all bleach products out of the short term rental. There are many alternatives that disinfect just as well.
I’ve said it a lot in this post, and I will repeat it again. When you buy dinnerware, sheets, and towels, BUY EXTRA! Accidents happen. Having extras will ensure you always have a well stocked home.